Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 3, 2010

Presidents Day Holiday weekend work to close
Metro's Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery stations
No Blue or Orange Line service between DC and Arlington

Throughout the Presidents Day Holiday weekend, the Rosslyn Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines will be closed and the Arlington Cemetery Metrorail station on the Blue Line (station closes at 7 p.m. nightly during the winter months) will also be closed from 10 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12 to closing, Monday, Feb. 15, while Metro undertakes a major track rehabilitation project. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 5 a.m.

To help people get around the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the Court House and Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail stations and between the Pentagon and Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail stations. Customers should build at least 40 extra minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.

During the Presidents Day Holiday weekend, Metro will install two new rail switches at the Rosslyn Metrorail station. In addition to the installation of new rail switches at the Rosslyn station, Metro will replace several hundred feet of rail, 300 track fasteners, 300 anchor bolts, repair 30 water leaks, replace 550 tunnel lights for safety, clean third rail insulators and cover boards, and make track circuit upgrades at the Rosslyn Metrorail station.

Metro’s Emergency Management office is also taking advantage of the station closures and has arranged to conduct an emergency drill inside the closed Rosslyn Metrorail station in conjunction with Arlington County and the District of Columbia, on Saturday, Feb. 13.

Blue and Orange Line Service

The Orange Line will be split in two sections, the first between the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and Court House Metrorail stations, and the second between the Foggy Bottom-GWU and New Carrollton Metrorail stations.

The Blue Line will be split in two sections, the first between the Franconia-Springfield and Pentagon Metrorail stations, and the second between the Foggy Bottom-GWU and Largo Town Center Metrorail stations.

All Blue and Orange line trains will operate every 12 to 15 minutes from the end of each line during the day, and every 20 minutes after 9:30 p.m.

Last Blue/Orange Line Trains through Rosslyn – Friday, Feb. 12

The last trains will operate through the Rosslyn area prior to 10 p.m. because personnel need the time to remove power from both tracks and to assemble maintenance crews in the designated work zones.

On Friday, Feb. 12, prior to closure of the Rosslyn Metrorail station, the last New Carrollton bound Orange Line train through the Rosslyn Metrorail station will depart the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station at 9:28 p.m., depart the Rosslyn Metrorail station at 9:50 p.m., and arrive at the New Carrollton Metrorail station at 10:25 p.m. The last Vienna/Fairfax-GMU bound Orange Line train through the Rosslyn Metrorail station will depart the New Carrollton Metrorail station at 9:18 p.m., depart the Rosslyn Metrorail station at 9:53 p.m., and arrive at the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station at 10:15 p.m.

On Friday, Feb. 12, prior to the closure of the Rosslyn Metrorail station, the last Largo Town Center bound Blue Line train will depart the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station at 9:32 p.m., the Rosslyn Metrorail station at 10 p.m., and arrive at the Largo Town Center Metrorail station at 10:36 p.m. The last Franconia-Springfield bound Blue Line train through the Rosslyn Metrorail station will depart the Largo Town Center Metrorail station at 9:22 p.m., depart the Rosslyn Metrorail station at 9:58 p.m., and arrive at the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station at 10:26 p.m.

Last Train Departures from Franconia-Springfield and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU

From Friday, Feb. 12, to Monday, Feb. 15, the last Blue and Orange Line trains departing the Franconia-Springfield and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail stations for the Pentagon and Court House Metrorail station will leave 30 minutes earlier than usual. This will allow for customers to connect to the free shuttle buses and to the last trains departing the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station to the Largo Town Center and New Carrollton Metrorail stations.

On Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, the last Orange Line train will depart Vienna/Fairfax-GMU at 2:07 a.m., West Falls Church-VT/UVA at 2:14 a.m., Ballston-MU at 2:21 a.m. Clarendon at 2:24 a.m., and arrive at Court House at 2:27 a.m. On Sunday, Feb.14, and Monday, Feb. 15, the last Orange Line train will depart Vienna/Fairfax-GMU at 11:07 p.m., West Falls Church-VT/UVA at 11:14 p.m., Ballston-MU at 11:21 p.m., Clarendon at 11:24 p.m., and arrive at Court House at 11:27 p.m.

On Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, the last Blue Line train will depart Franconia-Springfield at 2:10 a.m., King Street at 2:21 a.m., Braddock Road at 2:23 a.m., National Airport at 2:28 a.m., and at the Pentagon at 2:33 a.m. On Sunday, Feb. 14, and Monday, Feb. 15, the last Blue Line train will depart Franconia-Springfield at 11:10 p.m., King Street at 11:21 p.m., Braddock Road at 11:23 p.m., National Airport at 11:28 p.m., and arrive at the Pentagon station at 11:33 p.m.

Presidents Day Weekend Shuttle Bus Service

From 10 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12, until closing (midnight) on Monday, Feb. 15, Metro will operate the following free shuttle buses between these locations:

• Route #1: Court House Metrorail station to and from the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station with no stops in between.

• Route #2: Pentagon Metrorail station to and from the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station with a stop at the Arlington Cemetery Metrorail station which will only operate until 7 p.m. each evening.

• Route #3: Court House Metrorail station to and from the Pentagon Metrorail station with a stop at the Rosslyn Metrorail station.

• Route #4: Court House Metrorail station to and from the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station with a stop at Rosslyn Metrorail station.

• Route #5 Court House Metrorail station to and from the Rosslyn Metrorail station with a stop at the Arlington Cemetery Metrorail station which will only operate until 7 p.m. each evening.

The weekend’s free shuttle buses will operate every 12 to 15 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes after 9:30 p.m.

Available Existing Bus Service Presidents Day Weekend

On Saturday, Feb. 13, and Sunday, Feb. 14, Metro will operate expanded bus service on the 38B route every 15 minutes from the Ballston-MU Metrorail station to Farragut Square with stops at the Clarendon, Court House, Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations.

On Monday, Feb. 15, customers may utilize the following Metrobus routes to avoid the closures at the Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery Metrorail stations:

• Metrobus route 3Y, operating from Lee Highway to Farragut Square will operate expanded bus service on this route every 15 minutes during the morning and afternoon rush hour period.

Additional bus services available include the Arlington Transit route 42 which runs between the Pentagon and Ballston-MU Metrorail stations and the Georgetown Metro Connection which runs between the Rosslyn and Dupont Circle Metrorail stations via Georgetown.

Rider Tips for Presidents Day Weekend

Customers who normally use the Blue Line between Franconia-Springfield and the Pentagon should consider using the Yellow Line to get into downtown Washington during the long holiday weekend.

Blue and Orange line riders in Northern Virginia who plan to take Metro to events at the Verizon Center or the Washington Convention Center during the Presidents Day Holiday weekend should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans.

Customer Assistance

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13, to Monday, Feb. 15, Metro administrative employees will be available to assist customers at the Foggy Bottom-GWU, Arlington Cemetery, Rosslyn, Court House and Pentagon Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the track work.

To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts, post signs in key stations, place notices on station kiosks, and make train and system announcements. Additional information will be available on Metro=s web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.

The Trip Planner, located on Metro's Web site, will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. Customers should allow more time for their trips because of this work. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780.

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Click here for a PDF containing additional information on the Presidents Day holiday weekend track work.

Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel or Cathy Asato at 202-962-1051.For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.